North Texas Girl Organizes Toy Drive For Hospitalized Kids

DALLAS (CBS 111 NEWS) – She’s a girl on a mission! Like a modern day Santa, 9-year-old Elissa Martin del Campo, has arrived at Scottish Rite hospital, with SUVs stuffed with toys.

“I didn’t think I’d have so many of these donations, but I do, I have a lot,” she said.

Box after box were wheeled into the hospital — all to be given, to the young patients who won’t be able to be home for Christmas.

Elissa is no stranger to Scottish Rite. She’s a patient as well, living with spina bifida. But she rarely thinks about her challenge.

“The smiles on the kids faces, make me happy,” she said.

Elissa brings a bundle of energy and smiles, and as her mom found out, big ideas.

“About a month and a half ago, picking her up from school, she just out of the blue said, ‘Mom, this Christmas, I don’t want anything, I just want to get donations and take them to Scottish Rite hospital for the kids who won’t get to come home for Christmas,’” remembers Diana Villa Lobos.

With mom’s help, and the Irving school district she works for, dozens of kids at Scottish Rite were treated to presents, from the little girl who knows exactly what it’s like, to be in their shoes.

“I was a little worried,” said Elissa. “So when other kids were worried, it would be easier if they had a toy right?”

It’s that simple. One child. One big idea. One more reason to believe.